Mongoose minis for VAS?

AxisFan67 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:23 pm **Posts:** 46

Though I did have an issue with the 1/1800 scale of War at Sea at first, I have come to appreciate the scale more and more over time. I have found that this scale is comparable to a lot of the sci-fi miniatures games coming out.

With the example that some of the Shapeways artists have been setting with their miniatures it will be hard to get me away from this scale. They have shown that is, maybe, the perfect scale compromise between size, detail, and cost.

I would put it to Mongoose to examine this scale before they commit to 1/2400. They have some great examples they could look at between the W@S minis and what Shapeways is putting out now.

AxisFan67 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:23 pm **Posts:** 46

Another reason to look at this scale is WotC is having some financial difficulties right now and the future of W@S is in some doubt. There would be a built-in customer base for 1/1800 with the W@S crowd and Mongoose would have a unique scale for their WW2 naval ships.

Spectrar Ghost · **Joined:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:04 pm **Posts:** 62

I understand the advantages of having a unique scale for minis (captive audience), but I dislike the idea as a consumer, especially for largish scales. I was able to get a ton of 1:6000 Figurehead ships because they were cheap, but now my local (only 1500 miles) source is closed and I need to go across the pond for them. 1:1800 will likely be as or more expensive than 1:2400, and impossible to bring out all once. Thus, some players have to wait for their favorite class for some time. With existing scales, particularly 1:2400, there are options.

This means that (and I'm making some assumptions on relative price and detail here) people who want inexpensive fleets first and foremost can go with Panzerschiffe, those who want intermediate price and detail can go with Mongoose, and those who want detail above all alse can buy GHQ. There is also the opportunity to have lines fill in each others holes, for a more complete experience.

As a gamer, I'm more likely to buy in a scale with some degree of market saturation, both for the reasons stated above, and because competition means a higher quality end product for me. No competition leads to stagnation. Again, look at Figurehead. There are still holes in the range, but the sculptor quit doing them, and there has been no effort to continue the line, because there is no competator that might grab sales with a larger selection.

hdan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:29 pm

Agreed. At 1:2400 I might buy some. Any other scale, no.

rcbecker1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:22 am

1/2400 is the most common scale so good choice. 1/1800 only going to catch people who missed out on the early WAS stuff. The other issue is filling out the line will take forever same as WAS. I own a ton of WAS and at this point dont need a different scale unless I could unload 100s of minis but then I have the reason I bought WAS its painted.

Spence · **Joined:** Mon May 31, 2004 5:46 am **Posts:** 149

For myself I want a scale I can actually use. I don't play allot of games because the mini's are GInormous and look really really idiotic on the table. So by "can actually use" I mean small enough that I can fit a decent fleet on a 4x8 table and play and yet large enough you can paint them without an electron microscope.

I opt for 1/2400 as the best balance. When I was younger with better eyes I would have said 1/6000.

Lincolnlog · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:39 pm

I invested quite heavily in the WOTC W@S mini's, and even if continuation of the line was not in question, I had to ask myself at one set a year, do I want to be 90 before I can run all the scenarios that would be available using a more complete mini line.

So I went over to the Panzerschiffe 1/2400's. But got to tell you, it looks like there are going to be many advantages over the Panzerschiffes with these mini's. Good thing my fleets are not complete.

Nerroth · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:18 pm

A few new previews over on the ADB BBS; this time, for the US Navy.

msprange · **Joined:** Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:25 pm **Posts:** 12302

Spectrar Ghost wrote:

This means that (and I'm making some assumptions on relative price and detail here) people who want inexpensive fleets first and foremost can go with Panzerschiffe, those who want intermediate price and detail can go with Mongoose, and those who want detail above all alse can buy GHQ. There is also the opportunity to have lines fill in each others holes, for a more complete experience.

Not to state the obvious, but if we did not think we would be doing the most detailed models, we would not be releasing them!

Spectrar Ghost · **Joined:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:04 pm **Posts:** 62

Fair enough. I should clarify perhaps.

GHQ has seperate components for every main turret, each aircraft , and many cranes, catapults, and antennae. Unless you're investing in metal components, many of these would be prone to breakage or miscast from flow problems in resin. It allows for a degree of customization that is not available elsewhere. They also have individual models for many same-class vessels, e.g. Tone and Chikuma have their own sculpts.

Do you have an idea what we can reasonably expect to be seperate components on the Mongoose line? Also will there be multiple sculpts within a class?

msprange · **Joined:** Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:25 pm **Posts:** 12302

Spectrar Ghost wrote:

Do you have an idea what we can reasonably expect to be seperate components on the Mongoose line? Also will there be multiple sculpts within a class?

Yes and yes

We wil also have a few things that are not present in other lines...

BFalcon · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:09 pm

rcbecker1 wrote:

1/2400 is the most common scale so good choice.

Not necessarily the case over here - 1/3000 seems more common, judging by the number of suppliers that don't live in the US... and so need to be imported. Both Davco and Navco, the two leading UK suppliers are 1/3000.

Speaking personally, I don't mind either way - and quite honestly, at least the 2400 scale has a reason for being, but it is going to be annoying to have to give up a collection of 1/3000 scale when I'd just gotten a decent fleet assembled and stripped ready for painting...

Iron Domokun · **Joined:** Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:58 pm **Posts:** 402

I noticed that ships that fought against each other seemed to have their renders posted on the ADB boards at the same time, e.g. Hood & Bismarck, or the ships that fought in the Battle of the River Plate. Is that a hint that you intend to release box sets of minis to recreate specific famous battles, featuring all the ships present at the battle? Or is it just that Sandrine happened to do the ships in that order?

[If you're going to release these in game stores in a similar way to the W@S minis were done, then I think box sets of some sort would be good. It's cheaper for gamers to buy in to the game with box sets than blisters. Then again I'm probably preaching to the choir here...]

Nerroth · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:53 pm

Speaking of 3d moulds posted on ADB's BBS, here's a look at the Iowa-class BB.

msprange · **Joined:** Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:25 pm **Posts:** 12302

Iron Domokun wrote:

I noticed that ships that fought against each other seemed to have their renders posted on the ADB boards at the same time, e.g. Hood & Bismarck, or the ships that fought in the Battle of the River Plate. Is that a hint that you intend to release box sets of minis to recreate specific famous battles, featuring all the ships present at the battle? Or is it just that Sandrine happened to do the ships in that order?

They will be box sets, but whether we do them by battle or by fleet, no idea yet!

Mongoose minis for VAS?

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